How To Sell Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch (And How To Buy One)

iPad Help, Tips & Tricks

//March 18, 2014

Are you soon to upgrade to a new iPhone? Do you want the new iPad Air, or are you anticipating the iPad Air 2 this Fall? If so, you’re likely ready to part ways with some of your older iPhones and iPads. You may decide that the trade-in values of stores such as GameStop, Gazelle, and even Apple’s own trade-in program pay too little for your tastes. You’ve only owned your devices for 6-8 months and are expecting more for your investment. If so, then you’ll likely look to sell your iPhone, iPad, or even iPod Touch to someone who’s willing to pay a price you can live with. If so, we’ve got a big tip on how to sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch (and how to buy one) in excellent fashion.

Unfortunately, a number of questions we’ve received about iPhones and iPads pertain to the so-called “Find My iPhone” feature that is contained within iOS. Many iPhone, iPad, and iPod users activate this feature when they touch their iDevice for the first time, only to forget about it later. Then comes the time to sell your iPhone, and many leave it activated. This only provides problems for the buyer, since he or she cannot access iOS on the device if Find My iPhone still has your Apple ID and password connected.

It is due to this misfortune of a number of iOS users who buy a device and can’t use it (and feel swindled out of their few hundred dollars) that I write this post. I don’t want you to be swindled out of your income all because someone failed to deactivate his or her Find My iPhone feature (or Find My iPad, Find My iPod) before selling it to you. At the same time, I don’t want you to sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch and leave Find My iPhone activated to make life a hassle for someone else.

How To Sell Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch To A Personal Buyer

Here’s how to sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch if you’re a seller:

Step 1: the best answer to how to sell an iPhone, iPod, or iPod Touch is to delete all your apps and settings information on the device. I recommend that, should you intend to purchase a new iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, backup your content to iTunes, then place the device in DFU Mode or recovery mode. If you start the process, then remember that you’ve forgotten to save your content, do not worry: we’ve got you covered here, too.

Once your device returns to factory settings (it’s pre-activated condition), you should then be sure to remove the case, USB cable, and other accessories associated with it before you sell your iPhone or iDevice. If you’re planning to sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch at a local carrier retail store, be sure to leave your accessories at home – unless you want to give them away. If you give your accessories up along with your iPhone or iPad, you will never see them again.

If you intend to sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch and accessories to a buyer, then be sure to include a USB cable (so the individual can charge his or her new iPhone). You may even feel generous to throw in a case for free (if you’re desperate to get rid of it) or add it to the “bundle” for a little extra. You don’t know how many individuals will likely buy an iPhone or iPad case that’s offered to them in order to have immediate protection for their iPhone or iPad.

Another tip you may want to consider when selling your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch is that you want to have an excellent sale. If your iPhone is only a year old, you may not be interested in selling it for anything less than $400 — despite some customers who won’t pay a cent over $250 for it. Selling your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch should prove to be an exercise in negotiation, not desperation.

How To Buy an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch From A Personal Seller

Now, here’s how to buy an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, should you consider going through individuals instead of the local Apple retail store or a wireless carrier:

Step 1: the first step to learn how to buy an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch from another individual is to be sure to contact them by email or phone number. You do not want to have a clean break where, should something happen to your iPhone or iPad, you are unable to contact someone who can help.

Step 2: ask up front for the price of the iPhone, and see to it that you keep his or her email handy. You do not want to deal with a treacherous individual who tells you one price, then decides he or she wants some extra cash in person or at PayPal. Be sure to get the individual to place the price in writing so that you can pull up his or her email if you find yourself going to court over the matter. You may think it’s crazy to be this anal about a sale, but many individuals have had their share of dishonest encounters. It’s amazing how some individuals can hike up the price of a product if they know you’re desperate to acquire it.

Once you agree to a price and postal mail/pickup plans, the next obstacle concerns the device itself. Please be sure to ask them about the Find My iPhone feature: “have you disabled the Find My iPhone feature on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch?” Some sellers are only content with making a quick buck, and many do not understand how vital it is to disable the Find My iPhone feature. You do not want to end up with a device that, for all of its beauty, is nothing more than a paperweight because you still need the Apple ID and password of the previous owner to use it.

If you intend to sell your iPhone or other iDevice, please be sure to keep track of the agreed-upon price and whether or not you agreed to sell the accessories. The last thing you want when it’s time to ship the product is to have tension. After all, you do want to make a sale, so try to accommodate the buyer as much as possible. And if you are asked about the Find My iPhone feature, do not get angry; after all, the customer to whom you sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch only wants their purchase to be in the best shape it can be in when it arrives. If you forget to do this and are reminded, do so with kindness.

Be sure to remind the seller to disable the “Find My iPhone,” “Find My iPad,” or “Find My iPod” feature on the iDevice before mailing it. If you specifically ask them to disable this feature via email, and they do not, then the email will be some form of proof or evidence by which you can receive your money back if you feel the need to have a legal ruling on your purchase in the future.

Another step in how to buy your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch is to make sure that you see real pictures of it before you buy it. Some selling sites like EBay have a system in place where, if a customer is unhappy with a purchase, he or she can take to EBay and provide a low rating for an individual or company. If the individual or entity receives a certain number of bad ratings, EBay will remove the individual or company from selling items on EBay’s website. This is a good deterrent that forces individuals and companies to perform quality service, but should you choose to buy from an individual, you alone must be vigilant.

The Find My iPhone feature has led to many a disappointed buyer, who can’t activate his or her iPhone because the seller forgot. If you are looking to sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod sometime in the near future, remember to put the device in the same condition in which you got it – that includes the software and iOS. If you remember to do this, sellers, you won’t have to face consequences later. Buyers, if you remember to ask key questions, your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch will be not only a pretty gadget to behold, but one that’ll provide joy for weeks, months, and years to come. And when you get done with your new purchase, please disable Find My iPhone so that someone else can enjoy your iDevice as much as you did.

Do you have any questions about how to sell your iPhone or how to buy an iPhone? Write in and let us know. We here at iPadHelp want you to enjoy Apple products as much as we do.